Bone preparation reference guide

Abstract

A reference guide comprising an attachment portion configured to abut with and attach to an anatomical feature such as a bone. The reference guide further comprises a reference indicator that may be formed integrally with, or selectively securable to, the attachment portion and that indicates a reference point with respect to the attachment portion. The reference guide may be used to identify a target location during a surgical procedure even in the absence of traditional landmarks.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 246,055, filed Sep. 25, 2009, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to bone preparation guides and methods for their use.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]During surgical procedures, and especially during revision procedures involving removal and replacement of a prosthetic component, important bony landmarks may be damaged or lost. For example, during a hip surgery, femoral landmarks such as the greater trochanter, lesser trochanter, femoral head center, and marks from previous implants may be lost or compromised due to pre-operative trauma or due to trauma when removing previous implant components. If needed landmarks are not available, a surgeon may not be able to accurately complete a surgical procedure. For example, without a guiding landmark, the surgeon may not be able to acc...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The guide enables precise placement of revision implants by providing a reliable reference system that is not compromised during the removal of existing components, enhancing surgical accuracy and reducing the reliance on damaged or missing anatomical landmarks.

Problems solved by technology

During surgical procedures, and especially during revision procedures involving removal and replacement of a prosthetic component, important bony landmarks may be damaged or lost.

For example, during a hip surgery, femoral landmarks such as the greater trochanter, lesser trochanter, femoral head center, and marks from previous implants may be lost or compromised due to pre-operative trauma or due to trauma when removing previous implant components.

If needed landmarks are not available, a surgeon may not be able to accurately complete a surgical procedure.

For example, without a guiding landmark, the surgeon may not be able to accurately determine a proper reaming or broaching depth.

However, this depends on knowing pre-operatively that the traditional landmarks are unavailable and requires that other suitable landmarks can be identified.

All of these methods have various drawbacks including a lack of accuracy or dependency on known and favorable surgical conditions.

However, such devices may not be configured to attach in close proximity to an unprepared bone surface or to provide a guide for bone preparation.

Other devices may provide a guide for resecting a portion of a bone for example, but can be dependent on certain anatomical structures being present in order to properly guide a resection and often such devices can only be used on a prepared bone surface and may not be able to attach on or in close proximity to the an unprepared bone surface.

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